A very warm welcome to all
Psalm 147: “Great is our Lord and mighty in power.”
The Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany
Readings: Isaiah 40: 21-31; 1 Corinthians 9: 16-23
Gospel: Mark 1: 29-39
In our Gospel today
Getting the right balance between reflection and action is one of the great themes that emerges from Scripture. We can either stick our head in the sand of prayer and reflection or get consumed in frantic works as we seek to prove our usefulness. Today’s readings, especially the Gospel, include both. Just as Jesus seeks the calm of prayer, so he is also active to heal and save us from that which weighs us down.
In the Gospel reading the action occurs at the end of the sabbath day with Jesus holding out his hand and raising up Simon’s mother-in-law. Mark uses the same Greek word for ‘get up’ as when describing the resurrection of Jesus in chapter 16. There is a clear intention by the writer – this action is a sign of what is to come In the Gospel. The reader or hearer knows the end of the story and can therefore hear this reference and conclude that form the earliest part of his public ministry, Jesus was about resurrection – in daily life as well as his own cosmic resurrection.
Just as with Isaiah we live in our smallness within the epic reign of God, so too for Mark, we live in the epic reign of Christ and the Kingdom of God.
Stelios Christides
Stelios Christides, husband of our friend and sister Liz, died suddenly and unexpectedly last week. May his soul rest in the peace of heaven. He will be sorely missed. We pray for Liz and family in their shock and sadness. May they know that underneath are the everlasting arms. Service to be held at St Mary’s, details to be confirmed.
St John’s Pancake Party & Beetle Drive
St John’s are having a Pancake Party and Beetle Drive on Tuesday 13th February in the Church Hall on Crown Terrace. Congregation members from St Mary’s are warmly welcome to join the fun. Ticket prices are £5.00 for an adult and £3.00 for a child.
Sidespersons Rota
We are planning to re-establish the Sidespersons Rota in the near future. The role involves greeting at the door for the Sunday 10am Service, collecting, counting, and banking the Sunday collection. Please sign up on the sheet at the back of church if you would like to be on the rota.
World Day of Prayer 1st March
“I Beg You… Bear With One Another in Love”, prepared by the WDP Committee of Palestine. The service will take place on March 1st at Fountainhall Church Centre Aberdeen at 2pm. All are welcome. Please note there will be an offering with gift aid forms available. If you require any further information, please contact Jenny Tait, Jennifer.tait1955@gmail.comor telephone 01224 630996 or our own Nick Mills.
Diocesan Lent Course: Way to the Cross
Way to the Cross. We will be using material from the Diocesan Lent Course for this year’s Lent Group. Thursdays 7-8pm in the Crypt 22/2, 29/2, 7/3, 14/3 & 21/3. Revd Roger writes “I look forward to meeting with others to consider Jesus’ journey to the Cross. My hope is that this will prepare our hearts for our Easter worship and help us as we seek to follow Jesus, living cross-shaped lives. All comers welcome. Tea, Coffee, chat after also available!”
Annual General Meeting
St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Annual General Meeting will take place after the 10am Service on Sunday 4th February. Bishop Dorsey McConnell will be with us for the service and the AGM. Reports for the AGM should be available to send to the Diocesan Office about one week before the AGM.
Services and events commencing this Sunday and for the coming week
Sunday 4th February 8am Said Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 4th February 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Bishop Dorsey McConnell
Tuesday 6th February No Morning Prayer
Wednesday 7th February 10am Holy Communion: Revd Kate Gibson
Friday 9th February 6pm Compline: Iain Stewart
Sunday 11th February 8am Said Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Canon Dr Jenny Holden
Sunday 11th February 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Canon Dr Jenny Holden
Next Sunday’s readings: 2 Kings 2: 1-12; Psalm 50: 1-6; 2 Corinthians 4: 3-6
Gospel: Mark 1: 40-45
“Prayer and action … can never be seen as contradictory or mutually exclusive. Prayer without action grows into powerless pietism, and action without prayer degenerates into questionable manipulation.”
(Henri Nouwen)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd. Roger Dyer on 07719 458571
or revrogdyer@btinternet.com